Santa Clara and Rio Ave both set out in search of a fourth win on the bounce across all competitions when they lock horns at the Estadio de Sao Miguel on Saturday.
This will be the first league meeting between the two teams since March 2023, when the Vilacondenses picked up a 2-0 victory courtesy of a second-half own goal from Italo and Leonardo Ruiz's 73rd-minute effort.
Match preview
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Santa Clara picked up another huge result in what has been a brilliant league campaign as they secured a 1-0 victory over league leaders Sporting Lisbon at the Estadio Jose Alvalade last Saturday.
Despite seeing over 70% of the ball possession and being in the ascendancy for most of the game, Sporting Lisbon failed to tuck home any of their goalscoring chances as Vinicius Lopes's first-half strike inspired the visitors to all three points.
Santa Clara have now won three games on the bounce, including a 1-0 victory over Famalicao at the Estadio Municipal de Famalicao on November 24, a result which saw them book their spot in the fifth round of the Taca de Portugal.
After a two-game road swing, Vasco Matos's men now return home, where they are on a run of five back-to-back victories, scoring seven goals and keeping three clean sheets since a 2-0 defeat at the hands of Porto in the second gameweek back on August 16.
With a third of the 2024-25 campaign gone, Santa Clara, who gained promotion from the second tier last season, currently sit fourth in the Primeira Liga table, having picked up 24 points from their 12 matches.
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Rio Ave, on the other hand, saw off a second-half fightback from Moreirense as they picked up a 3-2 victory over Os verdes e brancos when the two sides squared off at the Estadio dos Arcos last Saturday.
After falling behind to strikes from Tiago Morais and Clayton, Gabrielzinho and a 49th-minute own goal from Aderllan Santos helped Moreirense overturn the two-goal deficit, but Marios Vrousai struck in the 94th minute to hand the hosts a dramatic win.
Before that, Rio Ave spared their blushes in the Taca de Portugal fourth round on November 23, when they needed penalties to see off Alverca at the Complexo Desportivo FC Alverca after a 2-2 draw after extra time with the Segunda Liga outfit.
Petit's men have now won each of their last three matches across all competitions, including two back-to-back victories over Boavista and Moreirense in the Primeira Liga, having failed to win any of their six league games preceding this run.
With 15 points from 12 matches, Rio Ave are currently ninth in the Primeira Liga standings but could move into seventh place with all three points at the Estadio de Sao Miguel this weekend.
However, results away from home offer little optimism as the Vilacondenses have won just one of their 16 Primeira Liga games on the road in 2024 while losing seven and claiming eight draws since the turn of the year.
Team News
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Santa Clara will have to cope without the services of Brazilian forward Allison Safira, who is currently suspended after crossing the yellow card threshold with his booking against Sporting Lisbon last weekend.
In his absence, 24-year-old Joao Costa will push for his second league start of the campaign, forming the front three with Gustavo Klismahn and Lopes, who has five league goals under his belt.
In his absence, Os Acorianos remain without the services of experienced defender Pedro Pacheco, who has been sidelined since coming off with a severe knee injury back in May.
As for Rio Ave, they remain without the secures of English defender Jonathan Panzo, who has missed each of the last four matches since picking up a knee injury against Benfica in October.
With his strike against Moreirense, Clayton has been involved in seven goals in his last 10 matches and the Brazilian striker will be one to keep an eye on.
Santa Clara possible starting lineup:
Batista; Venancio, Rocha, Pereira; Calila, Araujo, Firmino, Nunes; Lopes, Costa, Klismahn
Rio Ave possible starting lineup:
Miszta; Vrousai, William, Santos, Richards; Tiknaz, Neto, Pohlmann; Bondoso,, Clayton, Morais
We say: Santa Clara 2-1 Rio Ave
Santa Clara and Rio Ave have put together a fine run of results in recent weeks and we anticipate a thrilling matchup at the Estadio de Sao Miguel this weekend. However, Matos' side have been near impenetrable at home this season and we are tipping them to pick up a sixth consecutive victory in front of their supporters.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Joshua Ojele
